SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says the rumpus Gov. Bruce Rauner is making over a 2 percent legislative pay raise is a “diversion” from reaching agreement on the state budget.

Rauner, a Republican, blasted the Chicago Democrat on Tuesday for not blocking the $1,360 cost-of-living adjustment that takes effect automatically.

It’s lawmakers’ first raise in seven years — bumping base annual salary to $69,200.

Madigan says the spending plan approved by the General Assembly that Rauner vetoed in June did not appropriate money for the raises.

He said he couldn’t answer whether the raises will take effect even though there was no action to nix them.

Republicans on the House floor Tuesday requested that their legislation to turn away the pay increases be given a hearing. Majority Democrats rebuffed them.

 

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